Action is being called for to prevent Callander and Aberfoyle businesses from further suffering

Organisations have pledged to work together to find a solution to flooding problems in the Forth Valley.

After one of the wettest Decembers on record, the area around the Forth was on `flood alert’ for much of the festive season.

Flooding
around Aberfoyle and Callander was not as serious as 2012, when homes
were inundated and residents had to be rescued. However, the extreme weather has raised questions over defences around the Forth.

A
study into flooding in Aberfoyle, completed last year, showed that building flood defence walls and embankments along the River Forth, near
Loch Ard, capable of lasting for 50 years, could cost up to £13.5m.

A
further report into flood risk in Callander was also carried out. It recommended that a dedicated flood mitigation scheme for the Teith would
not be economically viable and that Stirling Council should look at alternative ways of preventing flooding in the area.

However councillors have called for action to be taken before disaster strikes again.

Councillor
Fergus Wood, SNP member for Trossachs and Teith, said work was being done to find a solution to the area’s problems, and that he believes a shorter term solution is needed now, rather than the larger scheme suggested by the study.

He said: “We are working with the council and the community council to see if we can do something which would need a much lower amount of support to solve the flooding, especially in the main streets of Aberfoyle.

“But in the long term, unless we do something, the situation is only going to deteriorate.”

Councillor
Wood said flooding problems in the area were hitting local businesses and agriculture, and said organisations such as the Forestry Commission need to be involved in devising a plan.

Fellow
Trossachs and Teith Councillor Martin Earl said it was only luck that serious flooding hadn’t occurred so far this winter, and that a solution
needed to be found quickly.

He
said: “This prolonged period of heavy rainfall demonstrates how important it is to find sustainable and realistic solutions as quickly as possible to the flooding issues in both Callander and Aberfoyle. To date, we have been extremely lucky but that may not continue to be the case.”

A Stirling Council spokeswoman said: “As part of our normal duties, we have considered a number of options and are engaging with the communities of Callander, Aberfoyle and Bridge of Allan. We are also progressing flood risk management with the communities that are known to be affected by flooding.”

The Forestry Commission has said it will work closely with other agencies to help alleviate flooding, and said it was examining building small dams, possibly on the Duchray Water.

A
spokesman said: “We have not yet been invited to participate in multi-agency talks but recently have been working closely with Stirling Council to explore ways - such as possibly building small dams - in which we could enhance and augment the flood management we have been carrying out for several years.”